With the advent of 2025 now at hand and the New Year still at the wide eyed and blinking stage, the management of the Kent Eagles complete the jigsaw that form’s their team building ahead of the forthcoming National Development Trophy campaign, Jacob Clouting proving the final piece that they feel fits neatly into place.
25-year-old Clouting is another name that comes with a strong Kent connection, having represented both the Kings and the Royals during their Central Park tenure, an attribute that will surely prove pleasing to supporters from both the nearby area and from further afield.
While most of his new teammates have been riding bikes from an early age, Clouting by his own admission was something of a late starter, becoming involved with such things around the age of 14.
This might come as some surprise given that his father is none other than former British Finalist (1998) and 1996 British Junior Champion Savalas Clouting who served several clubs, Ipswich, Poole and Arena Essex before finally calling a halt on his racing career at the tail end of the 2002 season following a spell with the Eastbourne Eagles.
Nevertheless, Clouting, hailing from Ipswich, first started riding bikes at that age, his first being a Yamaha 85cc on which he practiced at his local tracks just for fun.
His first time on a speedway bike came shortly after his seventeenth birthday, his potential quickly being recognised as he was snapped up to ride for the Kent Kings for the 2018 season after only a few months on the bike.
Clouting remained with the Kings in the National Development League in 2019 and it proved a successful year indeed as the Central Park outfit won the National trophy.
2020 proved to be something of a gap year but the following season saw him become a man of Kent once more as he signed for the newly founded Royals.
In 2022 Clouting sought pastures new, signing for the Oxford Chargers at NDL level with whom he has remained to date, the club winning the league title in 2023, another great season as proclaimed by the rider himself.
Clouting is set to ride once again for Oxford in the National Development League for a fourth year in 2025 whilst also competing at the parallel level in the Trophy equivalent with the Kent Eagles.
Clouting commented “It’s great to be back with a Kent based club after spending two seasons and then guesting for half a season with them in the past”.
“I feel that it has taken me a few years to get going after such a late start to riding motorbikes, however the past couple of seasons I feel I have made great progress and in 2025 I really want to push on and aim for a spot in the Championship” he concluded.
With the side now complete, Club owner Michael Gray revealed his thoughts on the Kent Eagles participation in the upcoming National Development Trophy in season 2025.
“We set out to put a local team together with a Kent and an Eagle connection, which I feel that the management team has done”.
“The team looks like an exciting blend of youngsters right through to a rich vein of experience, with all the riders looking to improve towards other opportunities within the sport”.
“We are looking forward to 2025 and it is already shaping up to be a great season, something we can build upon and learn from. We also hope that it will prove to be a campaign that when done we can look back and be proud of.” Gray concluded.
Words and Images by Kent Eagles
